LPMass to sue for candidate substitution?

The following is reproduced with permission of its author, Dr. George Phillies. “Bennett” refers to LFV’s own Chris Bennett. The donation offer is open to anyone who contributes to LPMass at the http://www.LPMass.Org web site, either to the Federal or state account.

I regret to report that the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office has just reversed its stand on candidate substitution for President and Vice President in Massachusetts. Last fall, they said it was allowed; they now say it is mostly forbidden.

I have contacted the ACLU, and spoken to their lead attorney. I have informed the National Party and the Barr campaign leadership. The National Party, which has now agreed to pay the bulk of the petitioning effort, believes that ‘continue with current drive and try to change the ruling’ is the way to go, so that is what we are doing. If the process of changing the ruling goes through, Phillies/Bennett is replaced with Barr/Root. If not, our ticket in Massachusetts this year will be Phillies/Bennett. In either case, Bob Underwood will be on the ballot.

If you use the distributed forms to collect signatures, remember that each raw signature is worth $1.70 to the National Party. Also, any money that you donate at LPMASS.ORG for ballot access will be matched, up to another $5000 in matching funds. I’ve already put in $1300 of my own money on spec–I gave it as matching funds, but put it in when needed even though it has not yet been matched.

And, remember, every donor gets a choice of either of my novels, in .rtf format, as a free gift to you to show my gratitude for your generosity.

If the process of changing the ruling goes through, Phillies/Bennett is replaced with Barr/Root. If not, our ticket in Massachusetts this year will be Phillies/Bennett. In either case, Bob Underwood will be on the ballot.

Although I should make clear that while it seems LPMass is doing their best to get on the ballot, it should not be a coincidence that all of a sudden now George seems to be saying that he will be on the ballot.

Barr is our nominee. I have much faith that LPMass will get his name on their ballot. Anything less would be dishonest.

Robert J Underwood is our US Senate candidate. In Massachusetts, candidates for statewide office (President, Senate, Governor…) can–if you are a political designation and not a political party–be put on a single nominating paper, meaning that one voter signature counts for all of them. In the current case, that is President and U.S. Senate.

Of course, if we were a political party, as some have advocated, the State Committee elected in the primary could designate electors and a Presidential candidate, but it would also get to collect the signatures to put Underwood on the ballot. Instead of needing 15,000 raw signatures, we would need close to 35,000 raw signatures to reach the same objective, because we would now be under the same rules as the D and R candidates.

I am getting somewhat tired of people telling me. seriously inaccurately, what I actually said in my speech, the core of which was an attack on the cesspit that is American conservatism, the philosophy of George Bush, George Wallace, Juhn Sununu, and Lester Maddox.

It is entirely inappropriate to suggest that George Phillies has been underhanded in this matter.

For many, many years Phillies has shouldered much of the work involved in securing ballot access in Mass.

Ballot Access is very onerous work, and it is absolutely necessary for the LP to be on the ballot, to be relevant, etc. Typically, very few people do it. A state LP is very fortunate to have even one person like Phillies, someone who will undertake to do the job time and again.

In fact, the LP would be much stronger were each state currently having zero ballot access heroes to have just one Phillies clone.

To suggest any impropriety here is to ignore or be unaware that for more than a decade now Phillie’s has been known as perhaps the LP’s biggest stickler for fiduciary responsibility. Even his most ardent opponents wouldn’t suggest he’d pull a fast one here.

Rather, as is typical for Phillies, he’s notified both the Barr campaign and the National officers that there is a problem in Mass. It’s a problem anyone working LP ballot access can expect to encounter.

Indeed, it appears that Phillies was on top of the situation…not surprising, he usually is.

See, someone is trying to pull a fast one on the whole LP, and that someone ain’t in the LP. We can expect many problems this year, as many knowledgeable people outside the LP will be working hard to try and keep our candidates off the ballot.

Phillies, again, is trying to prevent our being ripped off of ballot access…he’s doing it for the LP.

You may choose to thank him or you may not. It is wrong to cast aspersions on his character.

Unless I’m mistaken, Phillies was listed as a placeholder because someone had to be, and he was the ranking member of the LPMass.

Which is entirely normal. We’re doing the same thing in Illinois (our petition drive started well before the nominating convention, so we needed a placeholder).

You may choose to thank him or you may not. It is wrong to cast aspersions on his character.

Let me set this straight: there are very, very few people in the LP I hold in higher esteem than George Phillies. If I didn’t believe he was one of the best advocates for liberty there is, I wouldn’t have put so much time into working on his campaign. I spent a lot of time and money in the process of helping George Phillies. To assert this is an assault on his character is laughably stupid.

However, it is interesting to note that one of the most anti-Barr state delegations is now claiming a problem with getting Barr on the ballot. That’s my point.

“…To assert this is an assault on his character is laughably stupid…However, it is interesting to note that one of the most anti-Barr state delegations is now claiming a problem with getting Barr on the ballot. That’s my point.”

Jeff, I’m entirely prepared to believe it is a great coincidence. I have no fears; but perhaps that is because I am laughing, and stupid. 🙂

I don’t think George or anyone else in Mass. is happy about what the Secty of State there is doing, and I don’t think it’s a question of “claiming a problem”…I think George just reported the problem…see, when we suspect people of having underhanded motives it can dissuade them from doing the job we all want done.

Mind you, you have not heard me predict that our side is likely to win the argument. It depends on the actual law. If the apparently impending litigation fails and I do turn out to be the nominee in Massachusetts, I intend to contest the election vigorously.